POC 2-D Diffusion Assay for self-monitoring of BNP

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The objective of this STTR proposal is to develop a 2-D diffusion point-of-care assay (POC) for B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP). The primary goal of the proposed work is to create a test format that will allow patientswith chronic heart failure to quantitatively self-monitor serum levels of BNP. Determination of baseline level of BNP and changes in this level over time have prognostic utility in patients presenting with acute coronary syndromes and acute heart failure, and data suggest that monitoring levels over time may be a useful adjunct to traditional clinical evaluation by chronic monitoring of volume status in heart failure patients and potentially in guiding their treatment. While the applications of point-of-car testing of BNP in the outpatient clinic setting are obvious, quantitative devices remain cumbersome and are not well suited to patient engagement in their own monitoring and care. In this proposal, we exploit technological advances that simplify re